I’ve read many posts and comments about moms battling the stinkies (ammonia smell) but I’m not sure what that smells like. Will I know it if it happens?

I do notice that my baby’s diaper will smell like urine in the morning (after a 12-hr night) but I don’t smell it during the day. Is that normal from the overnight wearing or is that the dreaded stinkies?

If you are having ammonia issues, you will know it (and you’ll probably be pulling your hair out!) Night time diapers smelling strongly of ammonia/urine/like a dirty public restroom is pretty normal.

If your diapers smell clean coming out of the wash but make your eyes water as soon as baby wets them, you probably have detergent residue. There are lots of opinions on how to fix this. In my opinion, what works best is to just rinse rinse rinse the diapers until the water is clean and there are no bubbles and no residue. If they need a little extra help, a load of only inserts with a dab of bleach and several extra rinses takes care of it. I know not everyone approves of bleach though. (Some brands approve of occasional bleaching on shells as well but I prefer to do inserts only.)

If they are smelling stinky out of the dryer, you probably need more detergent (or a different detergent, particularly if you have hard water.) I have well water, a softener and an HE washer, so I use around the lowest load line of HE detergent, and I still need some extra rinses sometimes.

It’s again, just my opinion, but I think it’s better to use a bit more detergent and add an extra rinse, than to not use enough and not get the diapers clean!

How about you all? Have you dealt with ammonia stinkies? Did you know it right away? What was causing it and how did you fix it?

In my opinion, wash routine and detergent are the biggest hurdle in cloth diapering. My personal motto is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” If you have a detergent and wash routine that are working for you, stick with it. After trying many different detergents, I’ve been using about 1/4 the lowest load line of Tide powder, with an extra rinse. About once a month, I notice a slight ammonia smell or funk to my inserts, so I wash just the inserts with a dab of bleach, and rinse until the water is clean and the bleach smell is gone.

So why am I messing with it? I was sucked in by the new Rockin’ Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer, thinking that maybe by using it, I could eliminate the monthly/semi-monthly bleaching. I decided to also buy a bag of the mighty mighty marshmallow classic rock detergent to use along with it. Lucky for you, I bought an extra bag of each to give away to a reader!

I also snagged one of the magnetic measuring scoops that sticks right to the washer!

I don’t know if the mighty mighty marshmallow smells exactly like marshmallows, but it smells sweet and yummy!

The Funk Rock package suggests first soaking the diapers overnight in 3T of Rockin’ Green, so that’s what I did. I followed that up with a full wash/double rinse, and at least two more full washes/double rinses.

Next, I opened up the funk rock. The package says to initially use 4T and soak 30-60 minutes.

I soaked for about two hours, then followed with a full wash/double rinse, and two more full wash/double rinses.

After that, the diapers stunk. Not like ammonia or funk, but like poop. Like they hadn’t been washed. I did another wash with 2T of Rockin’ Green, with more full wash/double rinses. In all, I had been washing/soaking for a full 24 hours+. I did at least 8 or more full washes, all with double rinses. I reviewed a sample of Rockin’ Green back in April, and learned that you need to soak and rinse like crazy when first switching. That the switch can bring all the funk to the surface.

To be honest, after a full day of washing (and this was only half of my diapers!) I was ready to throw in the towel. I was sniffing them after every wash to see if it was getting any better, but it wasn’t.

So, at the time I’m writing this at 10:40 P.M., my stinky diapers are being washed in Tide. Hopefully the detergent police don’t come after me, but I won’t stray again as long as it’s working for me!

We have mountain spring well water, a water softener and an HE washer. Even if you have exactly the same, what works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Unfortunately, that’s just how washing goes! So, even though this didn’t work for me, it may work for you. Who knows, it I’d kept washing for another day (or three) maybe it would have worked out. Right now, I don’t care to find out. I’m having a moment where I’d like to pretend my laundry room doesn’t exist! I’m having flashbacks to a month of constant washing battling stinkies!

I just want to be clear that Rockin’ Green has worked wonders for so many people, especially the Hard Rock version for those with hard water. I still wholehearedly recommend trying Rockin’ Green if you’re having trouble. It just isn’t the right detergent for me!

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. Mandatory entries are name & email address. Optional bonus entryfor following this blog. Just like last time, you pick GFC, RSS, Email, “like” me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I want you to choose what will get you to come back and keep reading! Especially with 5 days of huge giveaways coming up with the Merry Fluffy Christmas Event and several more diaper giveaways after that!

I will accept entries until Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

I love comments, but comments do not count as entries. Feel free to comment about detergent/wash routines, or just to remind yourself that you entered! Post will be updated daily with the # of entries received.

Please note: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or approved by, nor affiliated with Rockin’ Green or any retailer.

Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 11, 7 and 4 year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. Read More »